Snowdrifts as tall as a telegraph pole and cars encrusted in impenetrable ice – these are just some of the examples of unenviable extreme weather showcased in a glossy new book exploiting Britainâs national obsession.

Standing tall: Snow lies as deep as a telegraph pole in North Dakota in the US

By contrast, a man can be seen going face-to-pylon with a telegraph pole submerged in snow, during a North Dakota snowdrift in March 1966.

Echoes of Oz: A huge dust storm is set to sweep through Stratford in Texas. Two residents to the right seem unconcerned about the impending storm

Photographer Bill Koch said: âI believe there is a train under here somewhere.â

A dust storm is shown looming over the small Texas town of Stratford, as is a huge plume of smoke rising above Idaho. The images are collected in Extraordinary Weather, published now by the Met Office and science author Richard Hamblyn.

Aerial view: Smoke plumes over Idaho and Montana (Picture: Nasa)

Rob Varley, the Met Officeâs operations and service director, said: âAs the striking photographs in this book attest, the weather in all its guises equally fascinates people around the world.â

Extraordinary Weather, priced £9.99, is available from David & Charles publishers in April.